(CNN) - Newt Gingrich tops the field of Republican presidential candidates by double digits in three of the four states to first hold contests in the race for the GOP nomination, according to new surveys in those states.

The CNN/Time/ORC International Polls, released Wednesday, indicate that strong support from the tea party movement is contributing to the former House speaker's surge among likely Republican primary voters and caucus-goers. But the poll also suggests that this race is far from over, with less than half the people questioned in each state saying their minds are made up.
According to the poll, one-third of likely GOP caucus participants in Iowa say they are backing Gingrich. Thirteen points back, at 20% is former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who's making his second bid for his party's nomination. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who's making his third run for the presidency, is at 17%, with Texas Gov. Rick Perry at 9%, Rep. Michele Bachmann of neighboring Minnesota at 7%, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania at 5% and former Utah Gov. and former ambassador to China Jon Huntsman at 1%. Both Bachmann and Santorum have been crisscrossing Iowa.

In New Hampshire, Romney remains the front-runner, but his once-large lead is shrinking. The poll indicates that 35% of likely Granite State GOP primary voters back Romney, with 26% supporting Gingrich and 17% backing Paul. Huntsman, who's been spending nearly all of his time campaigning in New Hampshire, is at 8%, with everyone else in the low single digits.

"Don't make the mistake of assuming this is a two-man race. Ron Paul is essentially tied with Romney for second place in Iowa, the first state out of the box, and has double-digit support in the next state on the calendar, New Hampshire," says Keating Holland, CNN Polling Director.

In South Carolina, the first southern state to vote and third overall, the poll indicates Gingrich far ahead of the field. Forty-three percent of likely GOP primary voters in the Palmetto State say they are backing Gingrich, with Romney a distant second at 20%, Perry at 8%, Bachmann and Paul each at 6%, Santorum at 4% and Huntsman at 1%.

It's the same story in Florida, the fourth statewide contest on the calendar. According to the poll, 48% of people likely to vote in Florida's Jan. 31 GOP primary say they support Gingrich, with Romney a distant second at 25%, Paul at 5% and everyone else in the low single digits.

So what's the secret to Gingrich's surge?

"In some states, Gingrich scores better among men, or older voters, or born-again Christians, but in other states those advantages disappear. But in each of the four states surveyed, Gingrich has a commanding lead among tea party supporters - by roughly 40 points in the two southern states and by smaller amounts in Iowa and New Hampshire," adds Holland. "Among likely GOP primary voters who are neutral toward the tea party or oppose it, Gingrich manages no better than a tie in most of those states and loses that group by 20 points to Romney in New Hampshire."

The CNN/Time/ORC poll is the third in the last day and a half to indicate that Gingrich is the front-runner in Iowa, and the second in the last day and a half to indicate he's the front-runner in South Carolina.

Gingrich's campaign was left for dead by many in late spring, after a bunch of controversies which resulted in a number of top advisers and staffers quitting the campaign. They also faced financial difficulties. But thanks to strong performances in many of the Republican presidential debates this autumn, and thanks to stumbles by Bachmann, Perry and businessman Herman Cain, who suspended his campaign this past weekend, Gingrich has soared in both national polling and in surveys in the crucial early voting states.

The challenge for Gingrich now is to use his skyrocketing poll numbers and increase in fundraising to quickly build a larger and more effective campaign structure in the early voting states. Gingrich went up with his first campaign TV commercial Monday, in Iowa.

The poll also indicates that even with start of the caucuses and primaries less than four weeks away, likely voters may still change their minds. Fifty-five percent of likely Iowa caucus goers and South Carolina primary voters say they may change their minds, with 53% of likely Florida primary voters and 48% of likely New Hampshire primary voters say their open to moving to another candidate.

"It's very important to keep in mind that these poll results are not - and cannot be - a prediction of the actual results to contests that are at least a month away. Most likely voters have not made up their minds in any of these states. Don't think the races are over in these four states - not by a long shot," says Holland.

The poll was conducted from Nov. 29-Dec 6, both before and after businessman Herman Cain suspended his bid for the GOP nomination. Herman Cain's name was included in the list of candidate until December 3, when he suspended his campaign. The results released today indicate the second choice of respondents who picked Cain as their first choice.

soundoff(86 Responses)

Sniffit

"I've never voted Republican but I'd vote for Ron Paul. Why is he not getting more support?"

Because, altho he appears to be actually sincere in his beliefs, unlike the rest of them and their pandering nonsense, his beliefs are complete nutjobbery. Magic pixie dust, unicorn farts and the childish fairy tale known as Atlas Shrugged do not "prove" that the "free market" is capable of regulating, policing and fixing itself in response to problems created by massive, overwhelming power imbalances created by economic class stratification and the rampant, unadulterated, inmitigated greed that results.

December 7, 2011 05:28 pm at 5:28 pm |

Well, well..

Scott, lets go there. I think you are as delusional as Trump's perfect hair fantasy.

December 7, 2011 05:28 pm at 5:28 pm |

bill hill

was'nt Rudy G.in first place at this point in "08 Gingrinch/Trump 2012

December 7, 2011 05:28 pm at 5:28 pm |

Phreddy

I can't wait until the Republicans come forward and say: "Hey, we were all just joking – here is our REAL candidate for President!"
Looking at the current crop of Republican candidates one can only guess that this is some sort of joke on the American electorate.
And what is this doing on the CNN International page? I seriously doubt anyone else in the world is interested in this farce.

December 7, 2011 05:28 pm at 5:28 pm |

Jim22

If the GOP nominates Newt, they deserve to lose the election. I voted for Obama, but I feel it was a big mistake if Newt is my only alternative I'll stay home.

December 7, 2011 05:29 pm at 5:29 pm |

2012 Election

This Guy is the biggest joke ! he is the man who led the charge again Bill Clinton when he was having an affair years later we fidn out that at the same time he had a mistress. Talk about character. He wants to play all might and moral while he himself is in the gutter !

December 7, 2011 05:30 pm at 5:30 pm |

Daph1

“People need to hear what I have to say. There’s no one else who can say what I can say. It doesn’t matter what I live,” Gingrich explained to Wife No. 2, who was confused that he was dumping her for his mistress the day after giving a speech on family values.

December 7, 2011 05:31 pm at 5:31 pm |

absolutely1

Here is another good reason to vote Democrat. NEWT GINGRICH

December 7, 2011 05:36 pm at 5:36 pm |

Mike

I can't stand Obama, but its very sad my choice will be Romeny a flip floper who doesn't stand for anything or Newet the life time poltician!! I would rather stay home and wait for 2016 for a better candidate!

Americans haven't changed a bit, i am now convinced that the only thing that would wake people up if for total collapse SHTF scenario, which will happen. Keep rooting for these criminals like Gingrich who only show appears but inside they r all evil. Do a quick research and find out how Gingrich benefited from Insider corrupt trading. If you really care for your country, vote for Ron Paul, watch all of his videos and his policies on ending the Fed, Soundmoney and ending the wars. Don't believe the Mainstream media who have created a media blackout.